Dolphins Like To Take It To The Wire

Ron Davenport had bulled in for the touchdown Monday night to give the Miami Dolphins a commanding 27-13 lead over New England with 11:08 remaining. Commanding, that is, for most teams.

Not Miami Nice.

The Dolphins, seemingly in the spirit of fair play, don't like their games to end too soon for some reason. They obviously think routs are only something the mailman runs. It is as if Pete Rozelle has ordered them to keep things entertaining to the final commercial.

The Dolphins can turn a two-touchdown lead into a tie faster than you can run to the refrigerator (no, not that Refrigerator). They awoke Frank and O.J. and Joe Willie and everybody else snoozing on the couch at home by allowing the Patriots to score two fourth-quarter touchdowns during a 15-second span to tie it, 27-27.

No surprise there. They take a lead, give it back and then win the game without so much as raising their blood pressure. Miami Nice has squandered leads of 10 points or more against Houston, Tampa Bay, New England, New York Jets, Buffalo and Green Bay. The amazing thing is the Dolphins have lost to only Houston and New England (Game 1 in Foxboro, Mass.).

They have the killer instinct of a librarian. It's getting to be a joke -- even with Don Shula. ''We sure make it interesting,'' he said.

Naturally, the generous Dolphins defense was responsible, but only partially responsible this time. Tony Eason quickly led the Pats on a seven- play, 72-yard scoring drive that made it 27-20. It took Miami only 15 seconds to tie it when running back Joe Carter fumbled the kickoff and Cedric Jones scooped it up.

The Dolphins can strike from anywhere, folks.

Dan Marino knew the big lead was too good to be true. ''With the Patriots' football team, you can never relax,'' he said. He could have been speaking for his team as well. ''I knew the game wasn't over no matter how big a lead we had. They can really come up with the big plays.''

Luckily for Dolfans, so can Marino.

He passed Miami from the 24 to the New England 30 in six plays. When the Pats' aggressive defense stopped the Dolphins on third-and-2, Shula sent in Fuad Reveiz for a 47-yard field-goal attempt. Reveiz might be a rookie, but he knows a team that teases when he sees one. ''I learned the hard way not to think the game is won,'' he said. ''You always think you might have to kick the last field goal. You never let your guard down.''

Not when you play for Miami Nice. Reveiz's third field goal of the game split the uprights to give the Dolphins a 30-27 lead with 4:27 to play, more than enough time for some team to take advantage of Miami's bend-and-break defense. Some team besides the Pats, that is. Any team besides the Pats in the Orange Bowl.

Living up to its inglorious history, New England blew it, losing its 18th consecutive game in the Orange Bowl. It looked as if The Jinx was in jeopardy, however, when Eason led the Patriots to Miami's 34 with 1:13 left. New England had a first down.

Decision time for Coach Raymond Berry. Creep closer for the tying field goal with short sideline passes or with the running of Craig James, or be bold and go for the touchdown. ''On the last drive, we were looking for the touchdown,'' Berry said.

Hmmmm. Perhaps Berry didn't want to face Marino in overtime. Perhaps he wanted to exorcise the Orange Bowl hex with one bold stroke. Perhaps he had too much faith in Eason.

He called for Eason to throw two passes -- both over the middle. ''A high percentage play for us,'' Eason said. Eason's first pass was almost intercepted by safety Glenn Blackwood with 1:06 left. Eason's second pass -- again over the middle, intended for tight end Derrick Ramsey -- was over the 6-foot-5 Ramsey's head. Having had a little practice, Blackwood easily intercepted with 56 seconds left to move Miami into first in the AFC East.

''We were trying to get behind him Blackwood. We wanted to score a touchdown first and if not, we wanted the field goal,'' Eason said.

Carter won't have to live with his fumble. Blackwood instantly made him the happiest man in Miami. ''See that man right there?'' Carter said, pointing to Blackwood. ''He saved my life. I was worried.''

Worry best describes the state any Dolphins fan is in before the credits roll.